Chicken pox vaccination required for Ephrata kids

Health district wants all protected by Sept. 7

EPHRATA — Due to a chicken pox outbreak in the Ephrata School District last spring, the Grant County Health District requires students and staff to have proof of immunization by Sept. 7.

About 365 students received vaccinations from the disease through the health district on Monday, and more were expected to get vaccinated at the Grand County Courthouse from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. today. Students who missed the free clinics can get vaccinated through their health provider.

"We're really trying to get it done by this Friday," said Ephrata School District superintendent Jerry Simon.

County Health Officer Alexander Brzezny said the district should know by the end of September whether the disease is under control. The most recent literature available recommends students get the vaccine twice, Brzezny said. Thirteen percent of Ephrata children who were vaccinated once still got the chicken pox, consistent with national numbers, Brzezny said.

"To control the outbreak, you really need two shots," he said.

At this point, students are required to have only one shot, he said. Exceptions to the vaccination requirement will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The district is examining other districts, including private schools, to see if occurrences of chicken pox are happening in other districts. Brzezny recommended all students, even those outside the Ephrata School District, follow the health district's current recommendations of having at least one dose of the vaccine.

While other school districts are being looked at, the disease is not reportable, making it difficult to track, he said.

Peggy Grigg, nursing director with the health district, said the outbreak was discovered when the school nurse reported multiple cases of chicken pox happening at once.

"As that outbreak progressed, it began to involve more than one school," Grigg said.

Students can be excluded from the vaccination for specific reasons and still attend school, but "if there's a case of chicken pox that they could be exposed to in school, they will be excluded" from attending school, Grigg said.

Students 12 years old and under should get their second dose of the vaccine at least three months after they receive their first dose, Grigg said. Those 13 and older should get their second dose at least four weeks after they receive first dose.

Currently, the health district is working to get through its first doses to make sure enough vaccine is available locally, she said.